Electric high-tension apparatus, particularly for medical purposes



March 9, 1937. A. SCHMID 2,073,428 ELECTRIC HIGH TENSION APPARATUS,PARTICULARLY FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES Filed Feb. 8, 1952 Patented Mar. 9,1937 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC HIGH-TENSION APPABA US, PARTICULARLY FORMEDICAL POSES Alfred Schmid, Bern, Switzerland Application February 8,1932, Serial No. 591,720 In Switzerland February 20, 1931 3 Claims.

This invention relates to electric high-tension apparatus, particularlyfor medical purposes.

The'present invention has for one of its objects to enable currentimpulses of high tension to be used under circumstances which enable thedesired results to be obtained painlessly and withapparatus ischaracterized by the provision of means for preventing the appearance ofirregular parasitic discharge phenomena, for the purpose of enabling thecurrent impulses to be usedsafely and painlessly.

Preferably, a safety capacity is connected between the high-tensioncurrent-impulse generator and the said electrode, in which capacityirregular discharges are avoided by means of oil insulation.

Conveniently, the app ication surface of said electrode consists ofinsulating material.

When said safety capacity is provided, according to a feature of theinvention the said electrode may be in the form of a vacuum electrode.

Conveniently, the said electrode is of extended form for treatingcavities and ducts of the body.

According to another feature of the invention a counter-electrode may beconnected to earth or to the opposite pole of the apparatus.

For varying the effect of the electrode a variable capacity may be used,or, alternatively, its degree of vacuum may be varied,

According to yet another feature of the invention, the high-tensioncurrent-impulse generator may comprise a high-tension alternatingcurrenttransformer and a rectifying device in its secondary circuit, whichgenerator is so arranged that the secondary current of the transformercan' not exceed or reach a value that would be dangerous to the humanorganism.

Preferably, the.generator aforesaid is adapted to supplycurrent-impulses of relatively low frequency.

Various embodiments of the invention which have proved to besatisfactory in practice are dlagrammatically illustrated'by way ofexample in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing one form of apparatus according to theinvention, in which the impulse generator is an induction coil,

Figure 2 shows a similar apparatus, but without the valve shown inFigure 1, and

Figure 3 shows a modified form of apparatus designed to ensure .thesafetyof the patient.

Like reference characters designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

fying device in its secondary circuit, the entire Referring first toFigure 1, the numeral I denotes a so-called turbine interrupter, 2 isthe primary winding of an induction coil, 3 the secondary winding, 4 aglass plate condenser with oil insulation and of high capacity, 5 a likecondenser of lower capacity (a, few 100 cm.), 6 a thermionic rectifyingvalve, and l a so-called vacuum electrode. An earth is indicated at 8,and 9 designates a protective spark-gap. The numeral l0 denotes anelectrostatic indicating instrument, while H and 12 are the terminalsfor connection to a source of current. In Figure 3, the numeral l3denotes a regulator, e. g. a variable resistance.

When employing an apparatus of the described combination of parts, inwhich there were about interruptions per second and the spark-gap wasset to about 30 cm. and did not operate, the electrostatic indicatinginstrument I0 showed about 30,000 volts, and this has been found tobe asuitable operating condition for one type of treatment In someinstances, such treatments have met with success in reduction of goutynodes and tumors.

The treatment with such an electrode canalso be used e. g. for generaldisinfecting purposes, particularly in connection with acounter-electrode connected to the opposite pole. The apparatus inFigure z'comprises a metallic electrode 1 having a glass covering.

When using the apparatus shown in Figure 3 the safety of the patient isassured in that the maximum value of the primary current is limited;

the unidirectional action is obtained in this embodiment of theinvention by means of a diode rectifying valve 6.

For varying the eifect of the apparatus variable capacities may beemployed in the high-tension current-impulse circuit, or in the case ofa vacuum electrode for application to the patient a variable degree ofvacuum may be used. a

In the above described high-tension apparatus there may be insertedbetween the high-tension current-impulse generator and the electrode 1to be applied to the patient a safety capacitance .5, in which irregulardischarges are avoided by means of oil insulation.

The electrode 1 may have various shapes according to its use, and itsouter surface may be made of insulating material. Further, it may be a.so-called vacuum electrode.

Moreover, a counter-electrode connected to earth or to the opposite polemay be arranged in the secondary circuit. For varying the action of theelectrodes themselves a variable capacity may be connected to them, orthe vacuum of the electrodes themselves may be varied.

The high-tension current-impulse generator may comprise an alternatingcurrent transformer for supplying high tension current and a recti- Thehigh-tension current-impulse source or generator may be arranged tosupply current impulses of relatively lower frequency.

Various modifications may be made in the details of construction andarrangement of parts described above without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

, 1. Electric high-tension apparatus for medical purposes, comprising agenerator of high tension low to medium frequency current impulses, an

electrode connected to said generator for appli-,

cation to a person to be treated, means also in circuit for preventingirregular parasitic electrical discharges from the electrode, saidgenerator comprising a transformer for supplying a hightensionalternating current and a rectifying device in the secondary circuit ofsaid transformer for producing a rectified alternating current which isimpresed across said electrode, and

means for preventing the current in the transformer secondary circuitfrom exceeding a predetermined value that is safe to the personundergoing treatment.

2. Electric high-tension apparatus of the character described comprisingin combination a generator of high-tension current-impulses ofrelatively low frequency, an electrode connected to said generator, forapplication to a person, means for rectifying the output from saidgenerator, for producing rectified alternating current, means forimpressing said rectified current on said electrode, means also incircuit for preventing impulses of dangerous intensity, and means forpreventing irregular parasitic electrical discharges from saidelectrode.

3. Electric high-tension apparatus of the character described,comprising in combination, a generator of low to medium frequencycurrent impulses of a tension of several thousand volts, an electrodeconnected to said generator for application to a person connectedtherewith, and means also in the circuit for preventing the occurrenceof irregular parasitic electrical disdischarges from the electrode, saidgenerator comprising a transformer for supplying a hightensionalternating current, a rectifying device in the secondary circuit of thetransformer for producing partially rectified alternating 1 currentwhich is impressed on said electrode, and means for preventing secondarycurrent impulses exceeding a predetermined value which is safe for thehuman organism.

ALFRED SCHMID.

